ELLEN DOWNES
Make
A Difference
About Ellen Downes
Ellen is an entrepreneur and creative.
She has a passion for projects that focus on social justice through the Arts.
She has experience in the following areas:
• Project management
• Community Projects
• Film
• Sustainable Fashion
• Exhibition Design & Curation
Fashion Revolution
Country Coordinator, Vietnam
October 2018-present
Ellen coordinates the Fashion Revolution global movement in Vietnam. In April she co-curated and designed with artist Ellie Shipman the exhibition ‘Who Made My Clothes?’ This took place at The Vietnamese Women’s Museum which happened as part of Fashion Revolution Week. She is now working with ELLE Vietnam and The British Council to take the sustainable fashion exhibition to Ho Chi Minh City this December.
Founder of One-Piece Boutique
Sept 2018 – present
Ellen finds beautiful vintage swimming costumes and works with a local tailor in Hanoi to make alterations to them. 20% of profits are donated to Fashion Revolution Vietnam and this project acts as much as a business as to promote an alternative to fast fashion in the city. Ellen sells One-piece Boutique pieces at Chăn Con Công – Vintage Store in central Hanoi.
Founder of City Plaza School
October 2016 – March 2017
Ellen founded the City Plaza School and Cinema at City Plaza, which is a Refugee Accommodation and Solidarity Space in Athens. She also set up a community cinema for refugees who came from across Athens. In December 2016 she created the Keep City Plaza Open crowdfunding campaign. To promote it, Ellen produced a short film (below) which was directed by film maker Matthew Cassel. The film raised over £21,000.
Co-founder of Enchanted Cinema
August 2015 – January 2018
In 2015 Ellen co-founded the outdoor cinema company Enchanted Cinema in Cambridge, UK. Ellen managed all the company marketing, This included the social media pages, website, branding, press relations and the programming, She also collaborated with local artists, independent film makers, musicians and street food businesses. In 2017 she independently ran a Christmas Film Festival which was in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.
Ellen Downes
Ellen is always looking for exciting projects and collaborations. If you have an idea in the Arts, sustainable fashion, film or beyond please get in touch!